✨When You Finally Lead Yourself (030)

Many of the professionals and leaders I work with have an incredible gift —
they notice what others need.

They show up before they’re asked to, just to make things easier for someone else.
They anticipate the ripple effects of change on morale before anyone else names it.
They sense potential pressure points long before their team feels them.

They lead well — outwardly.

But when we start coaching, a pattern often emerges.
They’ve learned to lead everyone but themselves.

They recognise fatigue in others but miss their own.
They encourage others to rest yet keep pushing through their own exhaustion.
They create clarity for others but rarely pause to ask what they need.

Why noticing yourself is an act of self-leadership

It might sound simple, but it’s profound.

Noticing your own needs, energy, and boundaries is where self-leadership begins.
It’s what prevents high performance from quietly slipping into burnout.
It’s what allows you to bring the same clarity, care, and courage inward - so your leadership becomes sustainable, not sacrificial.

This kind of noticing often marks the moment my clients start to shift.
It’s the point where burnout recovery turns into genuine transformation.

A tool for leading yourself forward

There are many ways to practise self-leadership - through reflection, coaching, or carving out moments of stillness.

One of the most effective tools I’ve adopted and shared with over thirty professionals and leaders this year is the Vision Board.

A vision board gives form to what your inner leader already knows.

Join me at my next Vision Board Workshop:

🗓️ Friday, 14 November 2025
🕒 3:00 – 4:30 PM AEST | Live via Google Meet
🎟️ AUD $100 | Includes reflection workbook + weekly ‘Stay Lit’ messages
(with simple prompts to help your vision stay alive beyond the session)

In 90 minutes, you’ll create a visual compass for 2026 —
a clear reminder of what fuels you,
so, you can lead others without losing yourself.

👉 [Reserve your spot here]

If you can’t make it, reply or DM me and I’ll add you to the shortlist for future sessions.

Coming soon: Countering Yes Addiction

I’m also excited to host an upcoming webinar for industry professionals and leaders.

Countering Yes Addiction: From Automatic Yeses to Intentional Choices.

We’ll explore what happens when our strength, over-responsiveness, becomes a risk, and how to reset our internal compass so our ‘yeses’ come from alignment, not obligation.

Stay tuned for more details.

This week’s reflection

Take a quiet moment to ask yourself:

Because sustainable leadership starts there — with the quiet courage to lead you.

To your spark,
Mary